Telecom – Links

Note: PIAC is in no way responsible for the content of the websites or activities of the listed organizations.
Long Distance rate comparisons: http://www.telecomparisons.com
Submissions to the CRTC – PIAC submissions to the CRTC can be found on the CRTC’s website under the relevant proceeding. Please go to the CRTC website athttp://www.crtc.gc.ca

Energy – Links

Note: PIAC is in no way responsible for the content of the websites or activities of the listed organizations.

• Electricity and Natural Gas Rate Comparisons – Energyshop.com

 

TODAY!!!! Flash! Conference about TV on January 20 at uOttawa

TODAY in OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), in conjunction with The Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy & Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) and OpenMedia.ca, will be hosting a Flash! conference on January 20, in Ottawa, to talk about the future of television in Canada.
Details
When: Monday, January 20, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Brooks Building, Room 413, 100 Thomas More Street, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5
What: An informal, moderated discussion about TV in Canada
Why: To support a broad consultation with Canadians by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) about what’s on TV, how Canadians consume TV, and whether Canadians have the proper recourse for their concerns about TV.
Who: All members of the public are welcome to attend.
“The CRTC is poised to make some important decisions about television and so this is a very important opportunity for Canadians to be heard before the CRTC then asks the TV industry what it thinks, if any, the ground rules should be”, said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC.
To register, you have two options:
Option 1: Tweet us @Canada_PIAC; or
Option 2: Email gwhite@piac.ca
In the meanwhile, PIAC strongly encourages all Canadians to learn more about the CRTC process at CRTC’s TV consultation page
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca
Geoffrey White
Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002×24
gwhite@piac.ca

Fighting for consumer rights

700 MHz auction highlights need for more competition and choice in wireless services

OTTAWA – Consumers need more competition and choice in wireless services in light of WIND Mobile’s announced withdrawal from the 700 MHz spectrum auction, said the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today.
With only ten potential bidders, including the “Big Three” incumbents – Bell, TELUS and Rogers – and five regional players in the 700 MHz auction, none of the “new entrants” (WIND, Mobilicity and Public Mobile) from the 2008 auction will be able to challenge the entrenched wireless providers for this prime spectrum.
“It is disappointing that the new entrant wireless providers cannot get key 700 MHz spectrum. The efforts of the incumbent wireless providers appear to have eliminated any spectrum auction boost to competition,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
Nevertheless, PIAC notes the 700 MHz auction – and indeed any auction – is only one piece of a broader policy to introduce competition into the wireless sector.
Although the withdrawal of WIND from the 700 MHz spectrum auction is a setback on the path toward more competition and choice for Canadians, PIAC encourages the Government to continue and refine its broader wireless policy initiatives. These include:
•enforcing the new competition-focused policy on spectrum transfers;
•strengthening the roaming and tower-sharing framework;
•following through on the Government’s promise to cap domestic roaming rates
•awaiting the CRTC’s inquiry into wholesale roaming rates;
•releasing more licensed and unlicensed spectrum, as noted in Industry Canada’s Commercial Mobile Spectrum Outlook; and
•clarifying the foreign ownership regime for telecommunications to allow more investment in competitive service providers.
PIAC believes that increased wireless competition can, with the right policy framework, lead to more choice and lower prices for Canadian consumers.
In the meantime, Canadians have more control over their wireless services than ever before, thanks to the new Wireless Code – which came into force last December. “Because of the chance of less wireless competition in the near future, we encourage all Canadians to become familiar with their basic rights, and to make sure their service providers respect the rights expressed in the Wireless Code,” said Lawford.
PIAC is a non-profit organization that provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular, vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services.
Link to the CRTC’s Wireless Code of Conduct: Wireless Code of Conduct
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca
 

Part 1 Application Regarding Videotron’s Illico.tv Service

The Consumers’ Association of Canada (“CAC”), the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of British Columbia (“COSCO”), and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (“PIAC”, collectively with CAC and COSCO (“CAC-COSCO-PIAC”) hereby make an application to the Commission under Part 1 of the CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure to direct Quebecor Media Inc., Videotron Ltd., and Videotron G.P. (collectively the “Respondent”) to stop certain billing practices in respect of access by Videotron’s mobile wireless customers to over-the-top (“OTT”) mobile TV services.
Electronic service of this application has been made to the respondent by e-mail, with the associated attachments. This application has also been posted to PIAC’s website at: Part 1 Application Regarding Videotron’s Illico.tv Service [pdf file: 0.27mb]
 

Part 1 Application Regarding Roger’s Anyplace TV Service

The Consumers’ Association of Canada (“CAC”), the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of British Columbia (“COSCO”), and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (“PIAC”, collectively with CAC and COSCO (“CAC-COSCO-PIAC”) hereby make an application to the Commission under Part 1 of the CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure to direct Rogers Communications Partnership (the “Respondent”) to stop certain billing practices in respect of access by Rogers’ mobile wireless customers to over-the-top (“OTT”) mobile TV services.
Electronic service of this application has been made to the respondent by e-mail, with the associated attachments. This application has also been posted to PIAC’s website at: Part 1 Application Regarding Roger’s Anyplace TV Service

Consumers get more control of their Wireless as Consumer Code comes into Force

OTTAWA – Canadians will now have more control over their wireless services than before, thanks to the new Wireless Code – which becomes effective today – said consumer rights group the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) created the Code after an extensive hearing that saw the telecommunications industry, consumer groups, governments and thousands of consumers come together to agree on a baseline set of consumer protection principles for wireless services. For years PIAC has advocated for more protection for Canadian wireless consumers from abusive billing practices and oppressive contract terms.
“We are pleased that the Wireless Code has finally come into force and we trust consumers will enjoy the benefit of the new rules as they shop for, compare and use their wireless services,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC.
The Wireless Code has many clear consumer benefits. The Code:
•limits the amount wireless companies can charge their customers for roaming to $100 a month and their data overage charges to $50 unless the customer expressly agrees to pay more; it requires clear contract language;
•requires wireless companies to reduce the cost of contract cancellation, even when a phone or other handset has been provided at a discount, to zero after 2 years or to at most $50 where no handset has been provided;
•allows Canadians to unlock their mobile phones within ninety days of obtaining them – enabling Canadians to switch from one service provider to another more easily or to replace their “SIM” card with that of a foreign wireless carrier when travelling.
“We encourage all Canadians to become familiar with their basic rights, and to make sure their service providers respect the rights expressed in the Wireless Code,” added Lawford. He further noted that companies that do not respect consumer rights under the Wireless Code are subject to complaints before the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services, a free, industry-run ombudsman service overseen by the CRTC.
Link to the CRTC’s Wireless Code of Conduct: Wireless Code of Conduct
Link to the CCTS: Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca

PIAC Annual Dinner to feature guest speaker Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada

 

Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Photo courtesy of the OPC
 
OTTAWA – Thank you to all who attended!
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) cordially invites all of our friends and colleagues to the PIAC Annual Dinner 2013. This year we will have a very special guest speaker, Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
The Annual Dinner will be held on
Friday, November 29, 2013 at 6:00 p.m at the
National Arts Centre, Fountain Room, Ottawa
The Evening’s Events include:
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Cocktails (Cash Bar)
7:15 – Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Who will speak on: A reflection on the OPC and Commissioner Stoddart’s work defining the public interest in privacy.
7:30 – Four Course Meal served with 2 glasses of wine
Throughout the evening there will be draws for a door prize as well as draws for other prizes.
We look forward to a very exciting evening.
Donate at a corporate social responsibility scale of $3,500.00
(includes group table for 9 persons). PIAC will issue a charitable tax receipt for $3,140.00
Purchase a group table for 9 for a value of $700.00.
PIAC will also issue a charitable tax receipt for $340.00.
Buy an individual ticket for $80.00
PIAC will issue charitable taxable receipts at $40.00 per ticket.
If you are unable to attend please consider making a donation.
PIAC will provide a charitable tax receipt for the amount donated.
Donations and ticket orders can be mailed to:
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
1 Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
Or by faxing a completed order form with credit card information to (613) 562-0007
Download the order form
Cheques should be made payable to the PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY CENTRE.
For more information please contact:
Donna Brady
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002 x21
dbrady@piac.ca
 

Annual Report Shows Telecom Providers not Advising Consumers of Complaints Body

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA – Telecommunication service providers are not effectively informing their customers of Canada’s free complaints body, according to data released today in the Annual Report 2012-13 of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS). The CCTS is mandated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to resolve internet, wireline telephone and wireless service problems for Canadians.
“Telecom service providers are ignoring their responsibility to consumers to make them aware of the CCTS,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). “This is like hiding the box so no one can drop in a complaint,” Lawford added. According to the survey:
• 90.1% of respondents say their provider did not advise them of CCTS when discussing their complaint
• 84.8% say they have never seen a mention of CCTS on their bills
• 83.3% say they have never seen a prescribed notice about the CCTS on the website of their provider
Nonetheless, the CCTS Annual Report shows a 26% annual increase in complaints accepted, with complaints about wireless providers comprising more than 60% of all complaints received by the CCTS for the second straight year. On a positive note, the report noted a 98% decrease in the number of times premium text messaging was raised as an issue in 2012-2013. PIAC studied premium text messaging in 2011, and concluded that consumers needed better protection against unauthorized billing for mobile premium services, especially from their wireless service provider.
“Even with the adoption of an enforceable, comprehensive Wireless Code, the wireless industry needs to address chronic consumer problems like billing errors and non-disclosure of terms,” said Lawford. “We encourage the CRTC and the wireless industry to collaborate effectively in order to remedy these persistent consumer issues.”
The CCTS is an effective and free service available to all telecom customers who have been unable to resolve their complaints to their satisfaction with their telecom provider. The CCTS noted the results of a survey regarding their service in which over 80% of CCTS customers surveyed noted CCTS staff were accessible, timely, professional and impartial.
For more information:
John Lawford
Executive Director, General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca
or
Jonathan Bishop
Research Analyst
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×23
jbishop@piac.ca

Fighting for consumer rights

PIAC Encourages Conversation with Canadians About Television

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2013
OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today encouraged all Canadian consumers to send their input on television services – including their satisfaction with cable, satellite and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) retail packages – to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
“This is a key opportunity for consumers to comment on an industry that they care deeply about and pay dearly for but have for too long have had very little voice in shaping,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC.
The CRTC is asking all Canadians to share their views about Canada’s current and future television (TV) system with the Commission. Canadians can find more information and facts on Canada’s current TV system at this post on the CRTC website
The CRTC has stated it would like to hear consumer views on three broad topics:
• Programming: What do you think about what’s on television?
• Technology: What do you think about how you receive television programming?
• Viewer toolkit: Do you have enough information to make informed choices and seek solutions if you’re not satisfied?
“We hope to help Canadians understand the television market, which has lately been complicated by massive mergers such as the recent Bell-Astral deal,” noted Alysia Lau, Legal Counsel for PIAC. “PIAC will shortly be announcing its efforts to facilitate the public’s feedback to the CRTC.”
In the meanwhile, PIAC strongly encourages all Canadians to submit their feedback directly to the CRTC by:
Submitting a comment to the online discussion forum: 
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/talktv or
Hosting a Flash! conference discussion:
 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com300/cwc1.htm or
Using the CRTC Comment/Answer Form:
 http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/talktv-parlonstele.htm
Emailing the CRTC at 
talktv@crtc.gc.ca
Writing to the CRTC at:
CRTC
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N2
Faxing the CRTC: 
819-994-0218
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca
Alysia Lau
Legal Counsel
(613) 562-4002×38
alau@piac.ca
http://www.piac.ca